Transcript PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT AND BIRTH Prenatal Development  Time of fastest development in life span  Environment extremely important  Conception  Ova travels from ovary to uterus 

PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT AND
BIRTH
Prenatal Development
 Time of fastest development in life
span
 Environment extremely important
 Conception
 Ova
travels from ovary to uterus
 Penetration
 Outcome:
by 1 of 300-500 sperm
single-celled ZYGOTE
Prenatal Stages
 Germinal period: days 1-14

Implantation: 1/2 are successful

Miscarriage: 15% (recognized) to 50%
 Embryonic period: 3rd to 8th week

Organogenesis, Sexual differentiation
 Fetal period: 9th week – birth

Proliferation, migration

Differentiation of stem cells

Ends in tremendous brain development
Prenatal Environment
 Reciprocal influence
 Person
 Good
and environment
and bad influences important
 Teratogen: Environmental agent
 Harms
the developing fetus
 Critical
Period: Organogenesis
 Dosage
and duration
 Genetic
make-up: Susceptibility
•
The critical periods of prenatal development. Teratogens are more likely to
produce major structural abnormalities during the third through the eighth
prenatal week. Note, however, that many organs and body parts remain
sensitive to teratogenic agents throughout the nine-month prenatal period
Teratogens: Drugs
 Thalidomide (for morning sickness)
 All
or parts of limbs missing
 Tobacco: Miscarriage, low birth
weight, SIDS, slows fetal growth
 Alcohol: FAS
 Small,
facial deformities,
retardation
 Cocaine: Processing difficulties
•
(A) Characteristic features of a child with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
 (B) Child with FAS, illustrating many features in the drawing. Such
children may also have cardiovascular and limb defects.
Teratogens - Diseases
 Rubella (German Measles)
 Blind,
deaf, heart, brain
 Syphilis: Miscarriage, blind, deaf,
heart, brain
 After
18th week
 AIDS: Mothers transmit to babies
(15%-35%)
 Prenatally,
perinatally, postnatally
Teratogens: Environmental
Hazards
 Radiation: MR, leukemia, cancer,
mutations, spontaneous abortions,
etc.
 Avoid
X-rays when pregnant
 Pollutants
 In
air and water
 Lead:
MR (also postnatally)
The Mother’s State
 Age: Typically age 16-35
 15
or younger don’t seek prenatal
care
 Birth complications, low birth weight
 Over 35:Miscarriage, Down
Syndrome (father’s age also)
 Emotion: Stress can stunt fetal growth
 Positive
outlook most helpful
 Nutrition: 25-35 lb weight gain
 Malnutrition:
child
Smaller neurons, brain,
The Father’s State
 Research limited except for genetic
contribution
 Father’s age can also be influential
 Over
35: Increased number
miscarriages, heart defects, Down
Syndrome
 Over 50: Higher risk for schizophrenia
 Exposure to environmental toxins
 Radiation,
anesthetic gases, pesticides
 Damage to genetic material in sperm
Postnatal Depression
 Baby Blues: mild, common
 Clinical depression: 1/10
 Previous
depression common
 Children of Depressed Mothers
 Insecurely
attached, less
responsive
 Negative
to other children
The Father’s Experience
 Accepted, expected in delivery rooms
 Attend prenatal classes with wife
 Experience described as a significant
event
 Anxiety, stress common during delivery
 Relief, pride, joy when baby is born
 Sometimes depression following birth
 Disappointed if sex does not resume soon
The Neonatal Environment
 Culture, early socialization, health status

E.g., low birth-weight babies (8% in US)

Less than 5½ lbs

Strongly linked to low SES

Environment: Neonatal intensive care

Risk: Blindness, deafness, CP, autism,
cognitive, and later academic problems
 Parenting must be attentive, responsive
•
Modern technology permits survival of younger and smaller babies, but many
experts believe we have reached the lowest limits of viability at 23-24 weeks
gestation.
Learning Objectives
 What are the advantages of breast feeding?
 Are there disadvantages of breast feeding?
 How can at-risk newborns be identified?
 What treatments are available to optimize
development of at-risk babies?
 To what extent are the effects of the prenatal and
perinatal environments long lasting?
 What factors influence whether effects are lasting?
Breast or Bottle?
 Breast feeding most natural nutrition
 Practices vary across cultures
 Health benefits great for breast-fed infants
 At
least first 6 months recommended
 More likely to bottle feed: Factors
 Younger,
low SES, less education,
employed, African American
 US values toward breast feeding ambivalent
Low Birth-Weight Babies
 < 5½ pounds: “Small for date” or “preterm”


Leading cause of infant mortality
8% of all births, 65% of all infant deaths
 Factors: Low SES, smoking, stress, multiples
 Worse for minority, poverty, single-parent children
 For most, significant catch-up growth
Low Birth-Weight Infants
 Greater risk for blindness, deafness, CP, autism,
health problems - especially respiratory problems
Factors Helpful for LBW Infants
 Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, massage
 Responsive parenting, intellectual stimulation
 Early intervention programs work with
parents
 Childcare
education and support
 Growth-enhancing home environment
 Consistently attentive, responsive parenting
Risk and Resilience
 Not all high-risk infants have problems
 Werner: Kauai Longitudinal study (40 yrs)
 Findings:

Effects decrease over time

Outcomes depend on postnatal environment

Protective factors

Personal resources

Supportive postnatal environment